Bio572 - Final project

Overview

By now, you should now be able to:

Describe the distribution of error in your data
Identify and write out deterministic models
Combine stochastic and deterministic elements to fit models to the data using likelihood and/or Bayesian methods
Assess model fit using confidence intervals, likelihood surfaces, etc.
Compare models
Interpret the results
Defend your choices in your analysis

Your final project will involve demonstrating these new skills by analyzing a new data set of your own choosing.

Dates:

March 20 (lab) --- Come to class with a summary description of your dataset and/or graphs and be ready to discuss your questions, the data, and approach to analyzing your data to answer those questions. This is a conversation—I am happy to offer my advice—but one you need to be prepared for.
April 9 & 11 (classes) --- each of you will present your data and questions and then getting questions and feedback from the class.
Format for the "Presentations":

Should be informal. More of a discussion than a one-way transfer of information.
≤ 10 minutes long, including time for questions
Slides are fine, but not needed
Briefly present:
- the background or context of your project,
- your data (graphs, even hand drawn, are better than verbose descriptions or tables)
- your specific question(s) and predictions. (Again, graphs or pictures can help.)
Then explain how you will go about answering the question(s).
Ask whatever specific questions you have.

April 10 (lab) and April 16-18 (classes & lab) --- dedicated your projects, answering last minute questions, and helping you trouble shoot questions.

Note that this means that I will not be available to answer questions by email, etc. at other times; it just gets to be too much trying to help 13 people with their individual projects and still work on my own things!
Feel free to consult your colleagues and whatever materials you need, but remember that the final product must be your own work.

The final written project is due to me by Sunday April 21st midnight.
Presentations of final analyses April 22nd and 24th.

A note on getting my help:

Please use the workflow I outlined. This makes it easier for you and for me to understand what you did and diagnose issues.
I will not read through or trouble-shoot code that is not properly formated or documented!